The JSF Joint Operational Requirements Document of 2002 was drawn from the air combat environment that existed at the time. When the JSF Project breached the Nunn-McCurdy provisions, an update of the JORD to reflect current and future air combat environments was declined - so the JSF JORD is firmly rooted in the long-gone world of 2002.

So let me get this straight. The operational environment that the F-35 is tailored to defeat was frozen when the airplane was re-baselined around 2010 (too lazy to find the exact date but that's a good ballpark). Even at that earlier date the F-35 was figured by some to be inadequate and "clubbed like baby seals" but instead of adjusting, they've stayed the course and pushed forward?

We all know the F-35's foes have changed radically since then. The J-20, J-10, Pak-FA, SU-35 and many other threats (to include advanced S-400/500 anti-air systems) have shown up.

We know what's being said publicly, but what about those top secret wargames that we'll never know the results of. There is a reason why almost every credible defense think tank is now saying that we're at risk of losing a major war with China. There is a reason why US Army leadership is pushing so hard to get anti-air systems into the inventory.

Last but not least.

There is a reason why the USAF no longer talks about air dominance much less air superiority. Things are much worse than we're being told!